The Borneo Post reported Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor as saying the state government is monitoring the effects of the volcanic eruptions.

“I have been briefed about the situation and we are keeping tabs. It is important that we prioritise the safety of the people,” he said.

Reuters reported that at least 800 people in North Sulawesi have been evacuated after multiple eruptions of Mt Ruang, on Pulau Ruang, about 100km from the provincial capital of Manado.

Hundreds of passengers have been stranded at the Kuching International Airport, with long queues of passengers trying to rebook their flights at the check-in counters and airline offices.

The Star reported that former Mas Gading MP Dr Tiki Lafe was supposed to fly to Kuala Lumpur on a Malaysia Airlines flight at 10.05am.

“When I went to the counter to take my boarding pass, I was told that the flight had been cancelled because there was a volcanic eruption somewhere in Indonesia.

“So I went to the MAS office and there were a lot of people there already,” he said.

Bernama reported that more than 2,000 passengers have been affected by the cancellation of several flights from Tawau airport.

Airport manager Rehan Dhafiq Azizan said AirAsia and MAS flights involving Tawau had been cancelled. Firefly flights had been delayed and Malindo flights put “on hold”.

He said Tawau airport is still busy with stranded passengers trying to find alternative flights.